Mechanical-type automatic circuit-breaking appliance switch assembly

Abstract

A mechanical-type automatic circuit-breaking appliance switch assembly includes a switch housing, a switch unit, an elongate switch actuator and a biasing member. The switch housing is formed with a slide channel and is formed with an opening that is aligned with the slide channel. The switch unit is disposed in the switch housing adjacent to the slide channel. The switch unit has contact terminals that extend out of the switch housing, and a switch contact that faces the slide channel and that is capable of being pressed to operate the switch unit from a circuit-breaking state to a circuit-making state. The switch actuator is received in the slide channel and has first and second portions. The switch actuator is movable in the slide channel between a first position, where the second portion extends out of the switch housing via the opening and the switch actuator does not press the switch contact to operate the switch unit in the circuit-breaking state, and a second position, where the second portion extends into the switch housing via the opening and the switch actuator presses the switch contact to operate the switch unit in the circuit-making state. The biasing member is disposed in the switch housing and biases the switch actuator to the first position.

I claim: 
     
       1. A mechanical-type automatic circuit-breaking appliance switch assembly, comprising: a switch housing formed with a slide channel and having a first wall formed with a first opening that is aligned with said slide channel;   a switch unit disposed in said switch housing adjacent to said slide channel, said switch unit having contact terminals that extend out of said switch housing, and a switch contact that faces said slide channel and that is capable of being pressed to operate said switch unit from a circuit-breaking state to a circuit-making state;   an elongate switch actuator received in said slide channel, said switch actuator having first and second portions and being movable in said slide channel between a first position, where said second portion extends out of said switch housing via said first opening in said first wall and said switch actuator does not press said switch contact to operate said switch unit in the circuit-breaking state, and a second position, where said second portion extends into said switch housing via said first opening in said first wall and said switch actuator presses said switch contact to operate said switch unit in the circuit-making state, said first portion of said switch actuator being formed with a transverse stop flange that extends in a direction away from said switch contact of said switch unit to limit movement of said switch actuator relative to said switch housing and to prevent removal of said switch actuator from said switch housing; and   a tension spring disposed in said switch housing and biasing said switch actuator to said first position, said tension spring having a first end connected to said stop flange on said switch actuator and a second end connected to said first wall of said switch housing.   
     
     
       2. The mechanical-type automatic circuit-breaking appliance switch assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first portion of said switch actuator is formed with an inclined face that is aligned with said switch contact of said switch unit for sliding past said switch contact when said switch actuator moves from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
       3. The mechanical-type automatic circuit-breaking appliance switch assembly according to claim 1, wherein said switch housing has a second wall opposite to said first wall and formed with a second opening that is aligned with said slide channel, said first portion of said switch actuator extending into said second opening when said switch actuator is in the second position. 
     
     
       4. A mechanical-type automatic circuit-breaking appliance switch assembly comprising: a switch housing formed with a slide channel and having a first wall formed with a first opening that is aligned with said slide channel;   a switch unit disposed in said switch housing adjacent to said slide channel, said switch unit having contact terminals that extend out of said switch housing, and a switch contact that faces said slide channel and that is capable of being pressed to operate said switch unit from a circuit-breaking state to a circuit-making state, said switch housing having a second wall opposite to said first wall and formed with a second opening that is aligned with said slide channel, said first portion of said switch actuator extending through said second opening when said switch actuator is in the second position; and   an elongate switch actuator received in said slide channel, said switch actuator having first and second portions and being movable in said slide channel between a first position, where said second portion extends out of said switch housing via said first opening in said first wall and said switch actuator does not press said switch contact to operate said switch unit in the circuit-breaking state, and a second position, where said second portion extends into said switch housing via said first opening in said first wall and said switch actuator presses said switch contact to operate said switch unit in the circuit-making state, said second portion of said switch actuator being wider than said first portion, said switch actuator further having a diverging portion between said first and second portions and formed with an inclined face that slides past said switch contact of said switch unit when said switch actuator moves from the first position to the second position.